Contents

Overview of EU policy: Waste

Journal:
Manual of European Environmental Policy
ISSN:
1467-0445
E-ISSN:
1740-3529
Publisher:
Routledge,
DOI:
10.3763/meep.2010.0088
Author:
Institute for European Environmental Policy
Information last updated:
December 2011
Publication date:
December 2011

Waste is considered of importance environmentally for two key reasons: that without responsible management it can lead to significant environmental risks; and the generation of waste itself represents inefficient use of finite raw materials. Legislation to limit the environmental impact of waste was one of the earliest elements of the EU's environmental acquis. Policies focus on: reducing waste production, that is preventing the generation of waste; limiting the contaminants entering waste streams leading to less hazardous wastes; reducing the levels of disposal of waste and increasing levels of reuse, recycling and recovery of products; limiting shipments of hazardous waste and waste for disposal to third countries; and setting environmental standards for waste management operations to ensure waste is dealt with in a responsible way. This Manual of EU Environmental Policy contains two key chapters of relevance to reducing the environmental footprint of waste. The chapter on waste policies focuses on the management of waste, the environmental requirements with which waste management installations must comply and the big picture policy initiatives focused on waste. Meanwhile, the chapter focused on resource use and product policy contains details of key measures aimed at preventing waste generation and reducing the use of hazardous materials in products hence in subsequent waste materials.

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